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London Police Investigate Second Suspicious Vehicle; Will iPhone Live Up to Hype?; FDA Issues Warning For Veggie Booty Snack Food

Aired June 29, 2007 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Don Lemon.

No explosions, no arrests, no known suspects, and at least one, maybe two, attempts to plant car bombs in central London.

PHILLIPS: But there are plenty of clues, fears, precautions from Hyde Park to Times Square. We're watching every new development right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

The target is definitely London. But who or what and who's behind it all, we still don't know, and now new developments. A suspicious vehicle parked not far from Buckingham Palace is no longer just suspicious. It has got bomb-making material in it, too.

Police giving it the once-over found containers of gasoline and components similar to a car bomb defused earlier. That car was rigged to blow up outside a Piccadilly nightclub. Police got to it first. And the car was packed with gasoline, propane, tanks, and nails.

Investigators are convinced it would have caused considerable loss of life, had it gone off. And Londoners, understandably, are shaken.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WINSTON BECK, PARKED NEAR SUSPECT VEHICLE: It just shows how vigilant we have got to be, you know, that, any time -- anything can happen at any time, you know?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, a senior U.S. official tells CNN the Piccadilly Circus car bomb and this latest find, a car with explosive materials just a short distance away, are linked.

This story is complicated, and it gets more so with each new development.

Let's get to London and our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson.

Nic, what can you tell us about the link? NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the very latest is that the second vehicle that was discovered in an underground car park just off Park Lane in the center of London has, or appears, at least, to have been towed away by police for forensic investigation.

How are the two linked? Well, certainly, we know at this stage now that they both contain similar types of explosives, that they were both not far from each other. The -- the vehicle that was found in this underground car park was towed there overnight, because it was parked -- it was committing a traffic violation, parked by Trafalgar Square, towed away to this car pound, the underground car park.

There, attendants recognized the smell of gasoline coming from that vehicle, the vehicle outside the nightclub, packed full of gasoline, packed full of explosive gas canisters and nails. We're told that that's the same type of material found in this second vehicle.

So, by virtue of two very, very similar types of bombs, that's the way the link is being made at this time -- again, no information yet on who is behind it. But the police, when they discovered the first bomb, immediately began searching for other bombs around this city and throughout the rest of Britain.

They have increased their patrols throughout the capital -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Nic Robertson live from London -- thanks, Nic.

LEMON: Well, so much for easing into the job of prime minister. Gordon Brown took over for Tony Blair just two days ago, and faced reporters today as a leader under terror threat in his own capital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The first duty of a government is the security of the people.

And, as the police and security services have said on so many occasions, we face a serious and continued security threat to our country. We should allow the police to investigate this incident, and then report to us.

But this incident does recall the need for us to be vigilant at all times, and the public to be alert at any potential incidents. And I will stress to the cabinet that the vigilance must be maintained over these next few days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And, as long as we're talking timelines, it's worth a reminder that the second anniversary of the London bus bombing is a week from tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: U.S. cities are also stepping up security. From Washington and New York and Philadelphia, more police are on the streets. Philly's emergency management tells CNN, it's monitoring the events in London and will adjust police staff accordingly throughout the weekend.

LEMON: And take a look at this: close-up shots of gas canisters scene on the street while police investigated the terror alert.

Earlier in the CNN NEWSROOM, we spoke to a photographer who came across that car bomb. Here's what he saw and what you can see for yourself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL WEIR, PHOTOGRAPHER: I was just in the area last night, literally coming home from work, been photographing around the nightclubs and around the restaurants in -- basically in London, in town, and thought nothing of it.

I literally was on my way home to Trafalgar Square. And, on the way, I passed this incident. I see all the tape cordons being put up by the police and asked the police officer, what is going on? I just didn't understand what was going on.

I just asked him. He turned around and went: Oh, there's a suspect package in one of the cars.

There was rumors flying about that he just fled the scene immediately. I really don't know. That was just rumors of people that were inside the club that just said that he had run. He had run and run and run and got away.

It was the stuff in the backseat in the car that caught my eye. It's the stuff that -- I don't know whether it was, obviously, the person who created the attack, or whether it was the police of some sort that tried covering up whatever was in the backseat of the vehicle.

And, as you can quite clearly see in the photos (INAUDIBLE) that there was clearly something on the back of the motor that was covered up by a rug or carpet of some sort. And I'm wondering what was underneath it.

Just had an idea like it was caravan gas, or like what you would use for a gas cooker when you're in a caravan, when you're on holiday and things like that, or what you -- you know, just general gas, or what you would put matting down on the roof with, but didn't realize it was propane.

The one I photographed was the only one that I had seen. But rumors were flying about there was two or three others in the car through other people that had been around there before me. But whether that's true or not, I still don't know.

A bit shocked that I was in the right place at the right time. That really sums up being a photographer, to be quite honest.

I think, if I had known what had been actually going on, I don't think I would have been hanging about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, no suspects have been found. But, with today's news out of London, many people are uttering the words Muslim extremists. The British government continually tries to squash radical extremism under terrorism rules. Yet, their movement survives.

"CNN: SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT" takes a look at "The War Within."

Here's Christiane Amanpour with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANJEM CHOUDARY, MUSLIM RADICAL: One day, you will conquer Rome! One day -- one day, you will conquer the White House!

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anjem Choudary is the public face of Islamic extremism in Britain. His group, Al-Muhajiroun, disbanded before the British government could outlaw it under its new anti-terrorism rules. But that hasn't shut Choudary up.

CHOUDARY: Whoever insults Islam or insults the Prophet Mohammed deserves capital punishment!

AMANPOUR: That was Choudary's inflammatory rhetoric just days after Pope Benedict's controversial speech about Islam.

CHOUDARY: Pope Benedict, you will pay!

CROWD: Pope Benedict, you will pay!

CHOUDARY: The Mujahedeen are on their way!

CROWD: The Mujahedeen are on their way!

AMANPOUR: Outside Westminster Cathedral, British Catholics looked on in disbelief.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They can stand outside our church and abuse us, and abuse our religion and abuse people we hold dear, with absolute impunity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The simple question to the Christians is, do you condemn what the pope said? Do you condemn the pope?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't condemn...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you condemn what the pope?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What he said...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes or no? Do you condemn the pope? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If any of us was to amble up to, you know, the mosque at Regents Park and say anything in regards to Allah or Mohammad or what have you, best-case scenario, taken away by the police for inciting racial hatred, worst-case scenario, attacked by a bunch of thugs wearing tea towels on their heads.

CHOUDARY: Democracy, hypocrisy.

CROWD: Democracy, hypocrisy.

AMANPOUR: Even away from the bully pulpit, Choudary, who is a lawyer, not a cleric, continues to advocate extremist views, like calling for Sharia, Islamic law, for Britain.

CHOUDARY: All of the world belongs to Allah, and we will live according to the Sharia where we are. This is a fundamental belief of the Muslims. You know, if I was to go to the jungle tomorrow, I'm not going to live like the animals.

AMANPOUR (on camera): Anjem, basically, a lot of what you're saying is, it's my way or the highway. I mean, how does that kind of logic fit into a democratic state like the one we live in now? And like the one you live in? You live here by choice. Do you not believe in democracy?

CHOUDARY: No, I don't at all. We believe that people must live according to the Sharia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And you can see more this weekend on "CNN: SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT: The War Within." That's Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

LEMON: Well, we thought the Supreme Court was done for the term after its major rulings yesterday on the death penalty and race in schools, but, no. Before going their separate ways for the summer, justices reconsidered their own refusal less than three months ago to hear appeals from terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

Well, today, the court announced it will consider whether Gitmo detainees can challenge their confinement in federal court. That's another legal rebuke to the Bush administration, which has always insisted civilian courts have no jurisdiction over so-called enemy combatants.

Well, the high court's refusal is highly unusual. The case will be argued this fall.

Most of Guantanamo -- Guantanamo's detainees have been there more than five years. The prison camp is criticized by world leaders and many in Congress. Americans seem to be conflicted, too.

In the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, 46 percent say Guantanamo should stay open. But 45 percent think it should be shut down. PHILLIPS: Can a camera make you safer? How about four million cameras? Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM: London lives with Big Brother and divided opinion over constant surveillance.

LEMON: And desperately seeking guess what? The iPhone. The wait is almost over for dedicated Apple fans. The big question, will it live up to the expectations and all the hype?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Three-twelve Eastern time -- here are three of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Security sources tell CNN a second car filled with explosive materials has been found in London. The car was originally left in a no-parking area near Trafalgar Square. Workers who towed it to the edge of Hyde Park smelled gasoline and called police. Earlier, a car packed with fuel and nails was found outside a nightclub. It was safely defused.

Here in the U.S., the Supreme Court has reversed an earlier decision and will hear appeals from two terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay. At issue are the rights of terror detainees and the rules that have been created to put them on trial.

And the U.N. Security Council has officially shut down the inspection teams responsible for monitoring Iraq's weapons programs under Saddam Hussein. The U.N. created the teams after the 1991 Gulf War.

LEMON: Well, President Bush may be at his family home in Kennebunkport, Maine, but advisers are keeping him informed on the situation in London.

CNN's White House correspondent Ed Henry is with the president, and he joins us now with an update -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Don.

That's right. We have seen the president late morning, early afternoon, out on a boat with his father, the former President Bush, of course.

They are now back at Walker's Point, the family compound -- White House aides confirming that the president, after he returned from fishing, got a second briefing from his advisers about the situation in Great Britain, specifically, the president getting a second briefing from his homeland security adviser, Fran Townsend, undoubtedly getting some more information about that second car you were just talking about.

The president has started his day with his normal briefings by telephone here in Kennebunkport, that first briefing by Stephen Hadley, his national security adviser, where the president was informed about what had happened overnight -- the president obviously trying to monitor the situation, as is the White House staff, even as he gets a little bit of downtime here with his family, in advance of what is an important bit of business with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

They're not quite calling it a summit, but, starting on Sunday afternoon, and into Monday, the U.S. president, the Russian president will be here, trying to sort out what has become some bumps in the road, if you will, in U.S.-Russian relations, specifically about this U.S. plan to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe, right on Russia's doorstep -- Mr. Bush, trying to use this informal setting, hoping that that will help rebuild what had been a budding friendship with Vladimir Putin -- Don.

LEMON: All right, Ed Henry in Kennebunkport, Maine -- Ed, thank you for your report.

HENRY: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Can a camera make you safer? How about four million cameras? Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM: London lives with Big Brother and divided opinion over constant surveillance.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It's your money. They're your elected officials. Whatever they do when they get together is your business, right? Well, some of them don't seem to think so.

CNN's Drew Griffin is "Keeping Them Honest."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Our new hunt begins with our intrepid summer interns once again looking for secret treasures.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm calling from CNN to request a copy of the senator's earmark requests for the 2008 budget. I spoke with Chip yesterday.

GRIFFIN: They called every U.S. senator to ask how they are spending your tax dollars, billions of dollars on their very favorite projects. It's the murky world called earmark spending.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello, Chip. This is Shannon Black (ph) from CNN again. I just wanted to remind you that our deadline is this Thursday at 5:00 p.m.

GRIFFIN: We figure, taxpayers have a right to know who is spending how much of your money, and on what. And, once again, our interns got the cold shoulder from the new Congress, which vowed to be more transparent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I called on Monday regarding getting a copy of the senator's 2008 earmark requests.

GRIFFIN: Here are the results: Just these six senators said yes and gave us their earmark requests -- just six. These five senators actually didn't ask for any earmarks. Nineteen U.S. senators flat-out told us no. Here they are, the 19 senators who told us their earmark requests were none of our business.

But, just like in the House, the majority in the Senate didn't even bother to answer our question by our deadline. Seventy Senate offices did not provide us any answer, after four days of calling.

(on camera): One senator's office had a most creative response to our request. Republican Senator Mike Crapo's press secretary told us that to release the senator's earmark requests to us would violate federal privacy laws.

According to Senator Crapo, telling the American people how he wants to spend your money is against the law. Of course, we did immediately ask for an interview. And his press secretary declined, saying they saw no benefit in explaining that.

TIM PHILLIPS, PRESIDENT, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY: For a senator, a sitting U.S. senator, to say, well, I'm not going to tell you how I'm going to spend taxpayer dollars, because somehow it might violate the Privacy Act, it's ludicrous. I mean, it's -- it would be laughable, were it not so serious.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Earmark reform is serious to Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity. His group wants Congress to spend less of your money. But, like most every other issue, it is the public, he says, that must do the real work to change the spending as usual in Washington.

PHILLIPS: I think the only way it's going to make a difference is if average Americans from all walks of life demand that their members of Congress clean up this situation.

GRIFFIN: According to our blogs, "A.C. 360" viewers are now doing their own "Keeping Them Honest" phone calls, just like our interns.

Charlotte in Stockton, California, says she's calling her member of Congress, who turned us down. "I find it very interesting that other viewers were as surprised as I was that my guy was not a yes," she wrote.

"I was dismayed to find my congressperson on the list of 'no response'," wrote Barbara of Culver City, California. "I just e- mailed her and asked her to kindly cooperate with CNN's request." And she adds, "I will probably be getting a request for a donation as a response to me."

Finally, Jess writes from Kentucky: "Drew, my congressman responded to my e-mail about earmark spending. He said he believes in being open. Yet, on your list, he had no response. I'm disturbed by this. Please keep up with this story."

We're disturbed by it, too, Jess. And we will keep trying to keep them honest. (END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Believe me, Drew will keep them honest.

The government says a snack food popular with children needs to be thrown out.

Stephanie Elam at the New York Stock Exchange with all the details.

Hey, Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

It may not be the most popular snack food in America, but Veggie Booty is widely distributed throughout the whole country. And, if it's in your pantry, you have got to get rid of it.

Bags of Veggie Booty may be contaminated with salmonella. That's a bacteria that can cause a severe stomach ache and even death in those with weakened immune systems. The distributing part of the story is that children -- or, actually, I should say, the disturbing part about the story is that the children often consume Veggie Booty, and children are more vulnerable oftentimes to severe symptom -- symptoms of salmonella poisoning.

Veggie Booty is sold in 4-ounce, 1-ounce, and half-ounce bags. All those sizes, all those bags, if you have them, you have got to throw them out. You can send empty bags back to the snack maker, which is Robert's American Gourmet . The company Web site says you can call 1-800-626-7557 if you have any questions or if you need any help there -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, has anyone gotten sick?

ELAM: Well, the Food and Drug Administration says the warning is based on more than 50 illnesses in 17 states dating back to March of this year. Almost all of the illnesses occurred in children under 10, with the most cases involving toddlers.

The FDA says the outbreak is likely to be ongoing there. It's a very fun name, but it's kind of a scary story at the same time.

All right, let's take a look at the markets here. We moved to the downside. We saw a nice rally early in session, despite the terror plot story out of London this morning. That was thanks to upbeat inflation news. The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation came in much tamer than expected in May. But soaring oil prices have dragged on stocks later in the day.

Crude is now back up above $70 a barrel for the first time since September. And that is what's got the market sliding here now, the Dow now down 80 points. At one point, we had triple-digit losses, but we have come back from that, off more than half-a-percent right now -- the Nasdaq off about a half-a-percent at this time as well. Now, coming up, we will end out the trading week, and we will see if we can bring some fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July week. And that will be right up at the closing bell.

Until then, Kyra and Don, I will see you then.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Stephanie. We will see you in a little bit.

LEMON: Desperately seeking an iPhone? The wait is almost over for these dedicated Apple fans. The question, will it live up to their expectations?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta with this week's "Fit Nation" Friday tip.

Is exercise in your plan for the weekend? Well, I hope it is. But, if smoking is part of your plan, it might torpedo your progress with exercise. Exercise can reduce your risk of developing things like cancer and heart disease, as well as extending your life.

But, if you're smoking, you're automatically at higher risk for all of these conditions. And that might chip away at your later years. It can be tough to quit if you have been smoking for a long time, but, rest assured, there's help out there. You can quit-smoking aids like gums or patches, get a quit buddy, or even try a support group. Your body is going to thank you later on.

Have a fit-tastic weekend. And don't forget to check in at CNN.com/fitnation to join the "Fit Nation" challenge.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

LEMON: And I'm Don lemon.

Two cars and a wealth of forensic information left behind in a London bomb scare.

PHILLIPS: Scotland Yard is on the case. We will ask the former commander for insight.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: An update now on today's developments in London.

Police and security forces tell CNN, explosives components have now been found in a second car. It was parked illegally near Trafalgar Square. When workers towed it, they noticed it smelled of gasoline, and called police. A stretch of Park Lane near Buckingham Palace has been shut down for hours.

Early this morning, police found a car packed with fuel and nails outside a nightclub near Piccadilly Circus. Those explosives were defused.

PHILLIPS: Well, right now Scotland Yard is scrutinizing video from closed-circuit cameras perched all over London. They are hoping to see who parked a Mercedes crammed with gasoline, propane and nails. Cameras like these are all over London, but not everyone thinks they fight crime.

The story from CNN's Paula Newton.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The entire country, especially London, seems to be in a constant state of surveillance. There are more than four million cameras trained on almost every corner.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twist it clockwise to zoom in.

NEWTON: That's one camera for every 15 people. On any given day here, you can be caught on camera more than 300 times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Crossing Great Windmill Street (ph), continue on to Shaftesbury Avenue towards Piccadilly Circus.

NEWTON: On a random walk through central London, they could track and trace my every move with a better view than most police officers walking the beat.

Most recently, suspected terrorists were caught after being captured on camera. The men blamed for launching suicide attacks in London last summer showed up on more than a few CCTVs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've seen a reduction of 33 percent in street crime in the area. And that's fantastic. People are crying out to have CCTV.

They feel secure. They feel they can wander the streets at night. That somebody is out there keeping an eye open for anything -- wrongdoing.

NEWTON: But critics warn the viewing of surveillance video should be left to the professionals, not your next door neighbors.

JEN CORLEW, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES: This is a bit voyeuristic. It is bit like big brother in the community. So there is a lot of room for abuse. And I don't think that putting it in civilians hands rather than police hands is really effective.

NIGEL DAWES, SHOP OWNER: And one of our silk (INAUDIBLE) actually perched on the railings.

NEWTON: And Nigel Dawes has a story for every person who believes a camera will make them safer. He was robbed last spring and the whole thing was caught on a CCTV camera outside his shop. He called police and they said they just didn't have the time to look at the video.

DAWES: They can't put -- spend all this money putting these in and then saying, well, we haven't got the funds to review the footage.

NEWTON: Still, this surveillance service will be rolled out to as many as 70,000 homes by early next year. And as far as many residents are concerned, seeing is believing. They just feel safer knowing someone is watching.

Paula Newton, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And any minute now we are waiting for a live news conference from Scotland Yard. We'll take that when it happens.

We're also going to talk to John O'Connor. He's a former commander there at Scotland Yard. We're going to talk about the security cameras and what he thinks about this foiled bomb plot and the discovery of the other car with the same type of materials.

We'll be right back

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: As we wait for a live briefing at any moment now from Scotland Yard, we want to give you an update on today's developments in London.

Police and security forces tell CNN that explosive components have now been found in a second car. It was parked illegally near Trafalgar Square. Now, when workers towed it, they noticed it smelled of gasoline and they called police.

A stretch of Park Lane near Buckingham Palace has been shut down for hours. Earlier this morning police found a car packed with fuel and nails outside a nightclub near Piccadilly Circus. Those explosives were defused.

PHILLIPS: No suspects have been found, but with today's news out of London, many people are uttering the words "Muslim extremists". Moderate Muslims insist that violence is not the answer. And one such debate witnessed by CNN's Special Investigations Unit.

Here's Christiane Amanpour with a preview of "The War Within".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The battle for Islam is, in the end, a battle of ideas, and tonight, on the campus of the prestigious Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, there will be a debate between mainstream Muslims and the self-appointed apostles of Islamic Holy War. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the bill (ph) and welcome to this house (ph) belief that Islamist violence can never be justified.

AMANPOUR: The small group of Islamic extremists who turn up at every rally and protest in Britain have come here to Ireland to debate moderate clerics who say their religion has been hijacked by the likes of Anjem Choudary and Omar Brooks.

OMAR BROOKS, MUSLIM RADICAL: And we are the Muslims. We drink the blood of enemy. We can face them anywhere. That is Islam, that is jihad.

(SPEAKING ARABIC) he said, "I laugh when I kill," and he said to his own people (SPEAKING ARABIC), he said, "I come to slaughter all of you."

So anybody who wants to stand and face the Muslims he will face the banner of jihad.

AMANPOUR: There aren't many people following the banner of Omar Brooks yet he and his colleagues here have loudly dominated the public debate about Islam. But tonight the moderates fight back.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These people ladies and gentlemen, have a good look at them. They actually think if you kill children, if you kill women you go to heaven. You have no chance in hell.

You are a lawyer, Mr. Choudary -- can I speak? You are a lawyer and you would know you can't go to heaven unless you claim insanity. This is not an ideology. It's a mental illness.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, you can see more this weekend on CNN's "Special Investigations Unit: The War Within," Saturday and Sunday 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Let's take a look now at the investigation that's taking place in London.

John O'Connor is a former detective and commander of Scotland Yard's famed Flying Squad. He joins me now live from London.

John, good to see you.

I want to ask you about the security cameras right now being scrutinized at Scotland Yard. Do we know for sure if there were cameras that were on these cars that were found, these two cars with bombs?

JOHN O'CONNOR, FMR. SCOTLAND YARD DETECTIVE: Absolutely, certainly. The amount of security cameras there are in central London is probably the densest mixture of security cameras anywhere in the Western world. So, it's absolutely inevitable that these cars would be on CCTV. I think they'll be able to plot the routes in, and they may even be able to show where the first -- the first car, the Mercedes, the one that was first discovered, where it probably stopped, because I don't personally believe that the target was going to be in the Haymarket. I think it was going to be somewhere else.

The bomb -- an attempt was made to detonate. It didn't work. And then the driver has driven it into the Haymarket and abandoned it and ran away. That's what I think happened.

And almost all of that is going to be on CCTV. I think we should be very confident that the police will very quickly identify who the suspect is, and there will be a circulation and an all-points bulletin. I would expect an arrest to be made in a fairly quick time.

PHILLIPS: Well, that seems extremely positive and good news. And let me ask you, John -- earlier, I talked with another security analyst and he said those materials and that type of car bomb is exactly what you see in Iraq.

Do you believe that there's any connection here between the extremists in Iraq working with whomever made an attempt to blow these cars up in London?

O'CONNOR: I think what you -- what you have is -- are interdependent terrorist cells. And we have many of them in the U.K. The fact that they are clearly supportive of al Qaeda and clearly supportive of what's going on with the insurgents in Iraq, it doesn't mean to say they've been directed by them, but they're clearly supportive. And it certainly seems to me that there is a network that goes throughout the world, and certainly throughout Europe and the USA, where these kinds of activities are being executed in support of what's going on in Iraq.

I think that it's quite clear that there's an international aspect to this. And the local people that are involved in it -- and I think they are going to turn out to be local homegrown terrorists -- they may not know the identities of the main players, but they're certainly part of the overall picture. And in that respect, they pose a tremendous danger to the safety of the public in London.

PHILLIPS: And John, you mentioned a number of these cells in the U.K. Why do you think there is so much activity there? And a number of these plots have been foiled, thank goodness, but they are happening there, and they are close calls, versus the United States where we haven't seen anything like this since 9/11.

What is it that's happening in the U.K. that is creating these types of incidents and the growth of these cells?

O'CONNOR: I think one of the problems we have in the U.K. is the huge volume of immigration which has taken place over the last 15 to 20 years, and groups of people that have become disaffected because they've not been assimilated into mainstream society. And also, because we live cheap by (INAUDIBLE), we're a much smaller country, and there are much tighter connovations (ph), we're already finding that in some of our cities, there are almost ghettos.

There are dividing lines where people, some people from certain backgrounds, won't go and others won't go. It's a very worrying situation.

And a lot of it is being exploited by some of the mad extremists leaders who are spreading their evil invective all out, throughout the prisons and throughout many of our universities. And I think a lot of the blame for what's gone on and what we're reaping now must go back to the lack of action by our security services in the '80s and '90s, when they seemed to believe that Islamist terrorism would never take hold here.

Well, it has. It's here. We've got to deal with it.

I'm full of admiration for what they've been doing since 7/7, but I have to say that we're reaping the years of inactivity, when the security services at the end of the Cold War could have concentrated on Islamic extremism, but they didn't do that. It seemed that they just left it.

And we were known throughout Europe as Londonstan, because we seemed to tolerate the mad mullahs and the people that were spreading all this hatred. And it's here now, and we've got to deal with it.

PHILLIPS: John, I think you probably are the first interview that I've had that puts it so directly and so blunt, admitting the issue of such a tremendous problem.

John O'Connor, former Scotland Yard commander.

Terrific insight. Really appreciate it, John.

And we're expecting a live news conference actually right where John is. Scotland Yard is supposed to hold a live news conference on the investigation. We'll take it live as soon as it happens.

LEMON: Yes. We're going to continue to follow this developing story here, get you back to our top story. But first we want to go over to the newsroom. And there's a developing situation happening with famed golfer Tiger Woods.

T.J., what's going on?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, actually, just an incident at a home that he owns, a property. Jupiter Island, Florida, is where this is. A compound, if you will.

Well, there was a fire there that pretty much -- did some pretty extensive damage to a guest home there at his compound. There are several guest houses at this property. He has bought like 40- something million dollars worth of property there on Jupiter Island in the past year and a half or so.

But there is a video that you're looking at. And you can see that the fire pretty much gutted one of the guesthouses. Now, no indication that this is a suspicious fire right now, according to authorities. Also, no one lived at this property, so that wasn't the case as well.

But just something of note here. Tiger woods, again, this is a compound. He's expected to tear down a lot of the homes and whatnot on this property that he's bought anyway and build a much larger home and have this be his family compound.

He doesn't live on this property, actually. He lives actually on the golf course in Orlando. So he wasn't there. The family not there. But just kind of a fire they're checking out. And again, nothing suspicious right now, but a fire at a home that Tiger Woods owns there in Jupiter Island.

LEMON: Jupiter Island.

HOLMES: Jupiter Island.

LEMON: Yes.

All right, T.J. Thank you so much. We'll check back. Let us know if you have any developing news on that.

In the meantime, we want to remind you we are awaiting a press conference at Scotland Yard regarding the cars, two cars they found this morning. As soon as that happens, we'll get -- we'll get to that.

PHILLIPS: All right. But first, stepping down from the corporate world after 30 years and taking management skills learned there to help the less fortunate.

Melvin Washington is the focus of today's "Life After Work".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Melvin Washington spent much of his life with a foot in two different worlds. For over three decades, one foot was in the corporate world, working in engineering and financial roles at AT&T and Citibank. The other foot was in the nonprofit world, volunteering in his off hours for the Red Cross and others.

But, in 2003, Washington made a choice to step completely into his second world.

MELVIN WASHINGTON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HALE HOUSE CENTER: Having the opportunity to be fully engaged and help an organization to grow is the thing that really motivated me to make the transition.

VELSHI: So, taking the management skills he learned in corporate America, Washington put them to work helping places like the Hale House, a nonprofit in Harlem.

WASHINGTON: We're providing educational opportunities and care for babies, infants up through 3 to 5 years of age, and then a transition living facility whereby we are providing the next step for mothers and kids who are transitioning from streets to permanent housing.

When I first walked into the resident center and saw those little kids, I was hooked on Hale House. I think the kids are really our future, and anything that I can do to help kids thrive and grow and succeed is what I wanted to dedicate my time toward. The mission was something that is clearly in my DNA.

VELSHI: Ali Velshi, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Straight to Scotland Yard. More on the bomb plots in London.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

PETER CLARKE, SCOTLAND YARD: ... if they perceive that there is any type of immediate threat from a suspicious vehicle or, indeed, any other cause. I would make an appeal to members of the public who saw the blue Mercedes parked on Coxford (ph) Street early this morning, or who have any other information to contact the confidential anti- terrorist hotline on 0-800-789-321.

We will, of course, give you any more information as soon as we can and it is proper to do so.

Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: No questions, put Peter Clarke, head of the anti- terrorist unit there at Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard basically confirming what we told you earlier on, that there were two cars found with gas canisters. They do believe those two cars were linked.

This is the light blue Mercedes that was being towed away from the first scene in front of a nightclub. You could hear Peter Clarke asking the public for any information possible to contact authorities if they know anything about that car, or who -- or who had left it at that position.

The other car found closer to the embassy. As you can see here by the map that we've put together, not far from each other.

Once again, Peter Clarke saying the two cars linked. Both foiled.

Let's listen to the beginning of that news conference.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARKE: Earlier today, I promised that I would give further information as and when I could. I do now have some more information, and I think it's absolutely right that the public should be aware of what we have learned during the course of today.

During the course of today, we learned that a second Mercedes car, a blue 280E model, was issued with a parking ticket at about half past 2:00 this morning. This vehicle was parked in Coxford Street (ph), London, West One.

Coxford Street (ph) runs between Haymarket and Trafalgar Square. This is close to where the first vehicle was found and made safe this morning.

The second vehicle, in Coxford Street (ph), was subsequently taken to the pound in Hyde Park at about half past 3:00 this morning. This second vehicle has been examined during the course of this afternoon and earlier this evening by Metropolitan Police explosives officers.

The vehicle was found to contain very similar materials to those that had been found in the first car, in Haymarket earlier today. There was a considerable amount of fuel and gas canisters.

As in the first vehicle, there was also a substantial quantity of nails. This, like the first device, was potentially viable and was made safe by the explosives officers.

These vehicles are clearly linked. But I would like to repeat what I said earlier today.

We are doing everything possible to protect the public. There will be more police patrols. The investigation is moving ahead.

The discovery of what appears to be a second bomb is obviously troubling and reinforces the need for the public to be alert. They should ring 999 if they perceive that there is in any type of immediate threat from a suspicious vehicle or, indeed, any other cause.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Peter Clarke, head of the anti-terrorism unit there at Metropolitan Police, once again confirming those two cars found in London with bomb-making materials. Actually, two cars that were made into car bombs.

They do believe they're linked, and there could be more. You heard him right there telling anyone, if they see suspicious activity or any cars that do look suspicious, to immediately report them to authorities.

LEMON: A story we've been following all day here on CNN, and we'll continue to follow into the evening.

We should check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He can tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour.

What do you have for us, Wolf?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, guys.

We're going to continue to watch this breaking story, the London terror alert. We're tracking all these new developments suggesting a wider plot.

Here's another question. How vulnerable are we right here in the United States? We'll talk with a former official at Homeland Security, also with a senior analyst, the author of the book "Open Target".

Plus, President Bush, he's doing badly in the public opinion polls. But Congress is doing even worse. Why is the new Democratically-controlled Congress not living up to the public's expectations?

And we'll also be speaking live with Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. Lots going on in that campaign.

Much more coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM".

Back to you.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Wolf.

LEMON: The closing bell and a wrap of all the action on Wall Street just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A quick recap after we listened to that live news conference from Scotland Yard. Those bomb plots that we've been telling you about all day in London, apparently both of those cars linked. They are concerned there could be more. They're asking the public there in London if they see any suspicious activity or suspicious vehicles that could also be linked to these two car bombs that were found, they are -- you are asked to call authorities.

We're going to continue to follow the investigation into the search for those responsible. The good news is, Scotland Yard officials feel that they have may have something on surveillance tape, because there are cameras based -- surveillance cameras based in all of those areas. So that may be a really good lead for them to find the suspects involved with those bomb plots.

LEMON: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Well, the closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.

LEMON: Yes. Wolf Blitzer is going to have that.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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